By Aillinn Brennan • Special to The Current
The Saturday before everything came to a grinding halt, we posted signs all over the bar, “Let’s all do our part today! Embrace the moment but not each other.” As the reality of COVID-19’s spread in the world, the country and in PA hit, we were gearing up for what remained of Irish Fest with a whole lot of uncertainty.
On Friday we had guest’s telling us, “There’s nothing open where we live, so we drove up here for the weekend.” Anxiety started creeping in.
Scrupulous sanitation is inherent in the food service business and this was a test.
Let’s check all our cleaning protocols, review the Material Safety Data Sheets. Let’s take some seats out for distancing measures. Let’s not seat two top’s here but leave it in place to create distance. Make sure the sanitizer sits on the surface before we wipe, so go bus that other table and come back to it.
All staff eyes were pealed for guests showing signs of being sick. And man did we notice every person who touched their nose or coughed in the slightest. Things that you never thought about were becoming obsessional.
When all was said and done on that busy Saturday, with all our scrutiny we could honestly say thankfully that everyone seemed perfectly healthy. People were enjoying themselves and there was a collective vibe in the air, “This is our last day out for a while. Let’s enjoy it while we can!”
Sunday was a quieter day, and the questions were compounding as the news updates were. To what extent can we protect our guests if someone coughs next to them who may have the virus? We can’t. Should we just close then? Well, if everyone doesn’t close then we are not going to make a dent, and everyone has bills to pay.
The kids are off for two weeks, so should we? Check PA.gov. Look, Ohio just closed all its restaurants. Check PA.gov. First case in Northampton County. It’s getting closer. And on, and on, and on like that.
We wanted something collective and decisive as to what to do. To our relief on Monday, we got the directive to close for two weeks.
We are happy to report that we passed two Saturday’s from that busy last hurrah and everyone is well. Our hearts go out to all of those inflicted, suffering and dying all over the world and in our backyard.
Let’s and be thankful for our health and do our part for those vulnerable among us. Let’s embrace the moment, and stay home for now.
In all this uncertainty here are two certains. The bars will reopen. And this too shall pass.
Aillinn Brennan is proprietor of The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.
For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
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